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Patented Nov. 29, I898. A. J. RILEY.

UIL LAMP.

(Application filed Sept. 28, 1897.)

3 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model) WTzizzarJwn m: Noflms PETERS co moroumoq WASHINGTON, n c

No. 6l4,984. Patented Nov. 29, I898. A. J. RILEY.

OIL LAMP.

IApplicaLion filed Sept. 23, 1897.

No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

.\ fl 4 A N0. 6|4,984. Patented Nov. 29, I898. A. J. RILEY.

OIL LAMP.

-Application filed Sept. 23, 1897.)

(No ModeL, 3 Sheets--Sheet 3.

m: "cams PEIERS co PHOTO-LATHO, WASHINGTON 0,1:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED JOIIN RILEY, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

OIL-LAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 61 4,984, dated November 29, 1898. Application filed September 23, 1897. Serial No. 652,675. (No model.)

To all whom it 71mg concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED JOHN RILEY, a

subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and a resident of 88 Great King street, in the city of Birmingham, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Oil-Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists of improvements relating to oil-lamps, my object being to provide convenient, safe, and reliable means for intermittently supplying a number of suitably-arranged oil-lamps from one main distributing-tank placed at any suitable distance from such lamps.

In order that my invention may be the more readily understood, I append hereunto three sheets of explanatory drawings, to be hereinafter referred to.

Figure 1 is a diagram representing oil-lamps with main supply or distributing tank as arranged in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, of one form of regulating tap or cock employed upon the lamp-tanks or oil-reservoirs. Figs. 2 and 2 are detail sectional views to show the ports in the five-way valve. Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation, Fig. 4 a sectional end elevation, and Fig. 5 a plan, of the main oildistributing tank. Fig. 6 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, of the regulating tap or cook on the supply-pipe. Fig. 7 is an elevation, with part in section, of a suspension-lamp for employment with my improved oil-supply system.

The same reference letters and figures in the different views indicate the same parts.

The main oil supply or distributing tank is divided into three principal compartments A, B, and C, the closed compartment A be ing the compressed-air storage-chamber, the closed compartment B the oil-chamber, and the open-top compartment 0 the overflowchamber. An air-pump or inflater D (preferably of the type employed for the inflation of the pneumatic tires of cycle and other vehicle wheels) is fitted at one side of the tank in the compartment C, and is connected with the compressed-air chamber A by the tube d. A suitable valve is fitted to the tube d at a for the purpose of exhausting the compressed air prior to charging the chamber B with oil.

Such charging is effected by removing the screw-plug b, and thus allowing the oil placed in the upper or open-top chamber 0 to flow into the chamber B. When the chamber B is filled, the aperture is closed by the screwplug 1), and after closing the valve a the pump or inflater D is operated until the airchamber A is charged to the required degree of pressure. As the air-chamber A is connected with the oil-chamber B by the tube E, the compressed air flows from the chamber A to the chamber B and forces the oil up the feed or supply tube F.

The pressure of the air within the chambers is indicated by the U-shaped water or other gage G. I also sometimes employ a gage-glass for directly indicating the level of the oil within the chamber B.

The regulating tap or cook II on the feed or supply tube F is of a two-way type, such as illustrated at Fig. 6, one way or passage through the cock forming the communication between the upper and lower parts of the feed-tube F, while the other way or passage forms a communication between the upper part of the feed-tube and the drain or discharge tube f. The cook or tap plug is-so arranged that when the one passage is opened the other is closed. In the position of the plug given at Fig. 6 the passage between the upper part of the feed-tube and the drain or discharge tube f is open, while the other passage is closed.

When the passage between the upper and lower parts of the feed-tube F is opened, the oil is forced under the action of the compressed air through the cock H and the upper part of the feed-tube F to the tank or reservoir J of the suspension-lamp illustrated at Fig. 1, and after such tank has been filled the oil, continuing to flow up the tube F, will pass through the tube F, leading from the tank J to the tank J of the bracket or other lamp. The overflow from the tank J is returned by way of the tube F to the upper chamber 0 of the main supply-tank. On the appearance of the oil at the lower end or mouth of the overflow-tube F the attendant knows that the lamp reservoirs are completely charged, and he then closes the tap H, and by such closing movement opens the pas sage between the upper part of the feed-tube F and the drain or discharge tube f. The tube F then empties itself of the surplus oil, which is returned to the main tank, and as the tubes F F also automatically empty themselves the whole of the tubes in the system will be relieved not only of pressure, but of the oil itself, while the lamp tanks or reservoirs J .I remain charged. The level of the oil in the tanks J J will fall in said draining action down even with the ports Z"; but as these ports are near the top of the reservoirs a sufiieient quantity of oil will be maintained in them.

I preferably attach a wire-gauze or other filtering device at K or in any other suitable position to arrest any dirt or grit which would otherwise be forced through the feedtube into the lamp reservoirs or containers.

The tanks or reservoirs J J are each provided with a controlling tap or cock L, Fig. 1, either of a three-way or a five-way type. In the three-way cock, such as shown on the lamp tanks or reservoirs at Fig. 1, the first or upper way or passage Z of the plug L is for the admission of atmospheric air to the reservoir through the port Z of the casing L the second or lower way or passage Z of the plug forms the communication from the reservoir through the port Z of the casing to the tubes M, leading to the containers M immediately under the burners, while the third or intermediate way or passage Z admits oil to the reservoir from the feed or supply tube through the port Z of the casing. The first and second passages Z Z are opened and closed together by the one movement of the cock; but when such passages are opened the third passage is closed, and in the same manner when the third passage is closed the others are open. For the purpose of feeding the lamp tanks or reservoirs from the main supply-tank the tap L on each reservoir must be so turned that the first and second passages are closed, while the third is open for the admission of the oil. At the conclusion of the filling or charging of the lamp-tanks the taps L are turned in the reverse direction, thus closing the third passage, but opening the first and second passages.

The tubes I of the suspension-lamps have their upper ends open to the atmosphere and serve as condensers for any oil-vapor that may arise from the containers M.

It will be understood that I can arrange my intermittent system of oil-feeding from the one main supply or distributing tank for any desired number of lamps arranged in series or in circuit in the manner as hereinbefore described and as illustrated.

\Vhen employing a five-way cock instead of a three-way cook or tap upon each of the lamp tanks or reservoirs, I am enabled to circulate oil through the feed or supply pipes from the main supply or distributing tank without any examination or manipulation of the respective cocks or taps 011 the various lamp-tanks, and thus to allow the oil to fill certain reservoirs without entering the other reservoirs in the series. The five-way cock or tap is illustrated by the sectional view Fig. 2 and in detail in Figs. 2 and 2". The passage 1 of the plug and the passage 1 of the valve-casing are for the ad mission of atmospheric air to the lamp tank or reservoir .I. The ports 2 2 of the casing and the port 2 of the plug when alined permit the oil to flow straight through the cock and thence to the succeeding lamp tank.

The passage 3 in the casing and that 3 in the plug form the outlet from the tank J to the containers M, Fig. 1. The three passages formed by the ports 1 1, the ports 2 2 2, and the ports 3 3 are opened and closed together. The passage formed by the port t in the easing and the port 4c in the plug is for the admission of oil from the supply-pipe F, by way of a part of the port 2, through the cock to the tank J, in which it is fitted, while the passage formed by the ports 5 and 5 in the easing and the port 5 in the plug is for the overflowing oil from the tank J (when such tank is full) to pass to the pipe F, leading to the succeeding lamp-tanks in the series. The passages formed by ports i et and ports 5 5 5 are opened and closed together, and when such passages are open the otherthrce passages are closed, and Vice Versa. Thus in either positions of the cook the oil from the main supply or distributing tank can be circulated throughout the supply-pipes of the complete series. The lamp tanks or reservoirs having the five-way cock in such a position that the passages formed by the ports 1 1, 2 2' 2", and 3 3 are opened will receive no oil from the supply-pipes under the action of the pressure in the chamber or compartment 13 of the main supply or distributing tank, as the oil will pass through the passage formed by the ports 2 2 2 and thence through the supplypipe F to the next succeeding tank in the series. The lamp tanks or reservoirs having the five-way cocks in such a position that the passages formed by the ports at at and 5 5 5 are opened while the other three passages are closed will be fully charged with oil before the stream passes by Way of the passage 5 5 5 to the supply-pipe F, leading to the succeeding lamp-tanks.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In combination in an intermittent oilsupply system, a plurality of lamps, a pipe F leading from a central source, a series of reservoirs one for each lamp and arranged in said pipe system a series of valves one for each lamp and reservoir, each valve having a plurality of ways for controlling the supply of oil from the pipe-line to the reservoirs and from the reservoirs to the lamps, the overflow-pipe leading from the last tank to the central source and a drain-valve II in the pipe F through which the surplus oil in the intermittent system may be drained when the reservoirs are full, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a lamp tank or reservoir intermittently supplied with oil from a main distributing-tank of a cock having a plurality of ways, two of the ways which are opened and closed together being arranged respectively to admit atmospheric air to the reservoir and to permit of the flow of oil to the burners, while the third way which is opened when the other ways are closed and vice versa, admits oil to the reservoir from the intermittent supply-pipe, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a lamp tank or reservoir intermittently supplied with oil from a main distributing-tank, of a five-way cock or tap, three of such ways which are opened and closed together being arranged respectively to admit atmospheric air to the reservoir to permit of the flow of oil from the reservoir to the burners, and the oil from the main-tank supply-pipe to flow straight through the cock, while the other two ways, which are together opened when the aforesaid three ways are closed, and vice versa, are arranged respectively to admit oil to the reservoir from the intermittent supply-pipe and to permit the overflowing oil to pass to the next lamp-reservoir of a series, substantially as set forth.

4:. In combination in an intermittent oilsupply, the series of lamps, a source of oilsupply, the series of tanks, the valves in the tanks having a plurality of ways and means for draining the system when the tanks are filled, the said lamps being valveless and having containers receiving oil from the valved reservoirs which are integral with the lamps, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two Witnesses.

ALFRED JOHN RILEY. 

